Northern Michigan is taking a classic bargaining position, which says "under current information, we decide no" which can change to something like "given the previous information plus the monetary payment and other additional benefits offered by the WCHA (or alumni, or higher costs from the CCHA who now require us to travel to Alabama, or WHATEVER), we have decided yes." Information changes and that changes decisions. As long as a move to the WCHA still includes the Great Lakes Invitational, they maintain exposure to the home state student population. The last time Northern Michigan won the national title, they were in the WCHA.

Nathan


On 5/5/09 11:43 AM, "Bob Woodbury" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

Just to show you how smart I am, I found this about 10 minutes after
I voted for NMU:

Northern Michigan says no to WCHA
Craig Remsburg Mining Journal (Marquette, Mich.) - 05/05/2009

MARQUETTE, Mich. - Scratch Northern Michigan University as a
potential new member of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.
"We evaluated all the pros and cons and decided it's not the best for
us," Northern Michigan athletic director Ken Godfrey said. "We made
the decision about two weeks ago." The WCHA at its annual meeting in
Marco Island, Fla., indicated the 10-team league will expand to 12
starting in 2011-12 with the addition of Bemidji State and one other
unnamed school yet to be selected. Nebraska-Omaha and Northern
Michigan had been rumored to be in the WCHA's expansion sights. But
Godfrey said after six weeks of evaluation, he and Northern Michigan
President Les Wong decided it would not be prudent for Northern to
rejoin the WCHA. He said WCHA commissioner Bruce McLeod, whom he had
been in contact with several times, has been formally told of
Northern Michigan's decision. Northern Michigan played in the Central
Collegiate Hockey Association from 1976-77 to 1983-84, switched to
the WCHA from 1984-85 to 1996-97 and returned to the CCHA in 1997-98.
Godfrey cited increased travel costs as the primary reason for
rejecting the WCHA. "We would have to fly to Denver and Colorado
College," he noted, adding flights to the ones the Wildcats currently
take. Missed class days, no immediate benefits from WCHA tournament
play and "in excess" of $60,000 in league entry fees each year for
the first three were other factors, Godfrey said. First contacted by
WCHA member Michigan Tech about switching leagues, Godfrey admitted
expanding regular season play with the Huskies by a game or two was
enticing. So was playing Wisconsin and Minnesota. "Wisconsin is a
good draw for us. So is Minnesota," he said. "A lot of teams [in the
WCHA] would be attractive to our fans." But Godfrey said changing
leagues "most likely" would also result in losing Michigan and
Michigan State on the Wildcats' schedule. "We'd [also] lose some
media exposure in Michigan," Godfrey said. "And we always have an
excellent [alumni] following when we go to Joe Louis Arena [for CCHA
tournament play]." Godfrey added rebuffing the WCHA was not a snap
decision. "We took our time with it," he said. "We went through a lot
of different things." As a member of the WCHA, Northern Michigan
posted a 198-200-27 record over 13 seasons. It took the 1990-91
regular season title, three league tournament crowns (1989, '91 and
'92) and the 1990-91 NCAA Division I championship.